Textile-treating sleeve

ABSTRACT

A textile-treating sleeve made of thermoplastics material has a cylindrical or conical shell comprising consecutive rows of rigid ring sections. These ring sections extend circumferentially and are spaced apart in the axial and transverse directions. The ring sections of adjacent rows are offset relative to one another, and the ends of ring sections of adjacent rows are connected by longitudinal webs which are elastically and plastically yieldable in circumferential direction when axial and/or radial pressure is applied to the sleeve.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Gerhard Herbert Hahm Aachen; Walterllenning, Hoengen near Aachen, Germany [21 Appl. No. 848,379

[22] Filed July 3, 1969 [45] Patented Feb. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee Jos. Zin13 1 e rmann, ap rtnership [32] Priority July 5, 1968, Jan. 7, 1969 [33] Germany 1 P 1 9 81 -3 and L 1.10 500-6 [54] TEXTILE-TREATING SLEEVE12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl 242/118. 1 1 68/ 1 98 [51 1 Int.Cl B65h 75/02 [50] Field ol'Search 68/198;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,338,513 1/1944 Helm 68/1983,465,984 9/1969 Tigges 242/118.11

FOREIGN PATENTS 881,940 7/1949 Germany 68/198 Primary Examiner-Henry C.Sutherland Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Attorney-Mason, Fenwick &Lawrence ABSTRACT: A textile-treating sleeve made of thermoplasticsmaterial has a cylindrical or conical shell comprising consecutive rowsof rigid ring sections. These ring sections extend circumferentially andare spaced apart in the axial and transverse directions. The ringsections of adjacent rows are offset relative to one another, and theends of ring sections of adjacent rows are connected by longitudinalwebs which are elastically and plastically yieldable in circumferentialdirection when axial and/or radial pressure is applied to the sleeve.

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1 TEXTILE-TREATING SLEEVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The inventionrelates to a textile-treating sleeve, preferably of thermoplasticmaterial, having a cylindrical or conical shell for the heat and/or wettreatment of yarns or threads. For such treatment, the yarns or threadsare usually wound on sleeves and are subjected to the heat and/or wettreatment in this state. The heat treatment may be a shrinking process,and the wet treatment a dyeing process.

For many applications it is desirable that the sleeves undergo,simultaneously with their axial compression, also a reduction in theirdiameter, and vice versa, when they are radially compressed, asimultaneous reduction in the axial direction.

One of these applications is the treatment of texturated yarns, such as,e.g. the curled yarns sold under the trade name Helanca. For thistreatment, the yarns are wound on the sleeves in a more of lessstretched, tensioned state. When the sleeves are then axially compressedtogether with the yarn, the yarn tends to expand radially outwardly aswell as radially inwardly. If no simultaneous reduction of the diameterof the sleeves occurs together with the axial compression thereof, theinner layers of the yarn tend to be more strongly compressed than itsmiddle and outer layers, resulting in different results of the treatmentwithin the-wound yarn, such as nonuniform dyeing and changes in thecurl, which are undesirable.

Textile-treating sleeves, preferably of thermoplastic material, havealready been proposed for these applications, in which an axialcompression is accompanied by a positive reduction of the diameter-and,vice versa, a radial compression by a reduction in the axial direction.

One such sleeve comprises a shell having, in uniform distribution,elements which yield in both diagonal directions elastically and/orplastically, and rigid diagonal webs connecting these yielding elements.

Another proposed sleeve is characterized in that the shell hasperipherally extending, spaced apart, axially elastically and/orplastically yielding rings and rigid longitudinal webs connecting therings and arranged in spaced apart relationship, wherein axiallyconsecutive longitudinal webs are laterally offset relative to eachother.

The invention has the object of providing a textile-treating sleevewhich is characterized by particularly good operation, and thatespecially insofar as it offers'a very good support for the yarns orthreads to be wound thereon, and as it maintains to a far extent itscylindrical shape without distortion or twisting in its compression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This object is realized by a textile-treatingsleeve of the kind hereinbefore mentioned, wherein the shell of thesleeve comprises consecutive rows of rigid ring sections extendingcirlongitudinal webs elastically and plastically yieldable incircumferential direction.

With this configuration of the sleeve the longitudinal webs yield in thecircumferential direction both under radial and under axial compression,and that mainly at the points at which they are connected to the ringsections, at which these points act like pivot joints. This causes, onthe one hand, a reduction of the spacing between axially consecutivering sections, as well as, on the other hand, a reduction of the spacingbetween transversely adjacent ring sections. Thus, when the sleeve isaxially compressed, there occurs simultaneously a reduction of itsdiameter and, vice versa, when it is radially compressed, a shorteningof its axial length.

According to the material of which the sleeve is made, the applicationof suitable pressures and temperatures will cause an elastic and/orplastic deformation of its yielding longitudinal webs. If, as ispreferably done, the sleeve is made of thermoplastic material, forexample polypropylene, its longitudinal webs will yield elastically atroom temperature, and elastically as well as plastically at highertemperatures.

Owing to the presence and arrangement of the longitudinal webs thesleeve offers a very good support for yarns and threads to be woundthereon. Furthermore, the type and arrangement of the ring sections andlongitudinal webs ensures that the sleeve maintains under compression toa far extent its cylindrical shape, without bending or twisting.

According to a feature of the invention the ring sections and thelongitudinal webs are equidistantly spaced from one another and the ringsections of axially consecutive rows of rings are offset relative toeach other by half their axial spacing. This arrangement results inuniform distribution of the ring sections and longitudinal webs over theshell of the sleeve, with beneficial effects on its operation.

In the sleeve of the invention thelongitudinal webs may be inclinedrelative to the axial direction, and the inclination of the longitudinalwebs connected on one end portion of each ring section is opposite tothat of the longitudinal webs connected on the other end portion of saidring section. This inclined arrangement of the longitudinal webssupports the formation of articulated joints at the connecting pointsbetween the longitudinal webs and the ring sections and facilitatesyielding of the longitudinal .webs under axial or radial compression ofthe sleeve.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the direction ofinclination of axially consecutive longitudinal webs changesalternately, and two axially consecutive longitudinal webs form anobtuse angle, pointing in the direction of the end of the ring sectionto which they are connected. This configuration provides particularlyfavourable conditions with regard to the yielding properties andstability of shape of the sleeve.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the longitudinal webs have, attheir connecting points with the ring sections, a configuration whichprovides bending and buckling points. This construction provides foryielding of the longitudinal webs by bending and buckling at thesepoints, and further im proves the yielding properties.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the end portions of thering sections are connected by a single web each with the ends of thering sections of axially adjacent rows of ring sections, and wherein thewebs connecting adjacent ends of ring sections of axially consecutiverows of ring sections extend continuously from one end of the sleeve tothe other.

In another embodiment of the invention, the ring sections of axiallyadjacent rows of ring sections overlap in the circumferential direction,and the overlapping parts of the ring sections are each connected by atleast two spaced, parallel longitudinal webs. In this embodiment, whenthe sleeve is compressed, the ring sections are maintained parallel bythe longitudinal webs. This isdue to the fact that the two or morespaced, parallel longitudinal webs form, with the parts of the ringsections to which they are connected, parallelograms and undergo aparallelogram displacement when the sleeve is compressed. Inconsequence, the sleeve maintains particularly well its cylindricalshape when compressed.

According to another feature of the invention, the ring sections and thelongitudinal webs are of rectangular cross section, the ring sectionsbeing preferably of comparatively great thickness and the longitudinalwebs of comparatively small thickness. This configuration provides in aparticularly reliable manner the required rigidity of the ring sectionsand yieldability of the longitudinal webs.

Furthermore, in the sleeve according to the invention, the outer edgesand the inner edges of the ring sections may be in the form of arcs of acircle, and are so formed that the ring sections constitute, prior tocompression, an exactly circular inner surface, and, after compression,an exactly circular outer surface, of the sleeve shell. This is ofadvantage for winding up and unreeling of yarns and threads, and fortheir treatment on the sleeve.

Moreover, in the sleeve of the invention, the ends may be provided withend rings to which the adjacent longitudinal webs are connected. Theseend rings are in some cases of advantage in the axial compression of thesleeve and in winding or unreeling of yarns and threads on and from thesleeve.

Finally, according to yet another feature of the invention, the ringsections, the longitudinal webs, and, where provided, the end rings, areintegral. This integral construction is particularly suitable formanufacturing the sleeve from plastics material.

For facilitating winding of threads and yarns to be treated on thesleeve, for improving the support of the threads and yarns on thesleeve, and for simplifying the unreeling of the threads and yarns fromthe sleeve, the sleeve may be provided with other parts in addition tothe ring sections, longitudinal webs and end rings. Such other parts maybe provided, for ex- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sideelevation of a first embodiment of the sleeve according to theinvention, in the normal state;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the sleeve in the compressed state;

FIG. 4 is a section on line A-B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the sleeveaccording to the invention, in the normal state;

FIG. 6 is a plan ofthe sleeve shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the sleeve of FIG. 5 in the compressedstate; and

FIG. 8 is a plan of the sleeve shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The sleeve shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 ismade of thermoplastic synthetic resin. Its shell has rigid ring sections10 and yieldable longitudinal webs ll, 12. The ends of the shell haveend rings 13, 14. The ring sections 10, the longitudinal webs ll, 12 andthe end rings 13, 14 are integral.

The ring sections 10 extend circumferentially of the shell. Their lengthis about one-twelfth the circumference, and they are arranged incircumferentially and axially consecutive rows, as shown. Therein theyare equidistantly spaced in the axial and transverse directions of thesleeve. The ring sections 10 of adjacent rows of ring sections areoffset relative to each other, the offset of ring sections 10 of axiallyconsecutive rows being halftheir axial spacing.

The ring sections 10 are of rectangular cross section, wherein theirshort sides are located on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell,while their long sides extend substantially radially. However, insteadof rectangular cross section, the ring sections 10 may be of conicalcross section.

The end portions 15, 16 of the ring sections 10 are each connected by alongitudinal web 11, 12 with the end portions 16, I5 of each adjacentring section 10. The longitudinal webs ll, 12 or 12, 11, which connectopposed end portions 15, 16 of the axially consecutive rows of ringsections 10, extend continuously from one end of the sleeve to theother. In addition, the longitudinal webs ll, 12 are inclined withregard to the longitudinal direction in such a manner that theinclination of the longitudinal webs ll, 12 or l2, 11 at one end 15 ofaring section 10 is opposite to that of the other longitudinal webs l1,12 or 12, 11 at the other end 16 of this ring section 10. Apart fromthat, the arrangement of the longitudinal webs l1, 12 is such that thedirection of inclination of axially consecutive longitudinal webs l1, 12or 12, 11 changes alternately, and any two consecutive webs ll, 12 or12, 11 form an obtuse angle pointing in the direction ofthe end of thering section 10 to which they are connected.

The longitudinal webs 11, 12 are also of rectangular cross section withthe short sides on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell, and thelong sides extending radially. As with the ring sections 10, thelongitudinal webs ll, 12 may however be of conical cross section.

The longitudinal webs 11a, 12a at the ends of the sleeve are joined tothe end rings 13, 14. These end rings l3, 14 are also of rectangularcross section but may also be of different crosssectional shape.

Although this is not shown in the drawings the thickness of thelongitudinal webs 11, 12 can be reduced at their connections with thering sections 10 in order to provide there bending and buckling points.

When the sleeve is axially compressed from the state of FIGS. 1 and 2 tothe state of FIGS. 3 and 4, the longitudinal webs 11, 12 are exposed toa corresponding pressure and yield under this pressure in the directionof the circumference. In consequence the distance between adjacent,opposed facing ends 15, 16 of circumferentially consecutive ringsections 10 is reduced until they almost touch. This also produces acorresponding shortening of the gap between axially consecutive ringsections 10. In consequence, the axial compression of the sleeve willresult in a positive shortening of the sleeve in the axial direction,combined with a positive reduction of its diameter, as shown in FIGS. 3and 4.

However, the sleeve may likewise be reduced from the state of FIGS. 1and 2 to that of FIGS. 3 and 4 by radial compression. If the sleeve isradially compressed,the same pressure as in axial compression of thesleeve is exerted through the ring sections 10 on the longitudinal webs11 and 12. Thus, the longitudinal webs 11 and 12 yield circumferentiallyalso under radial compression, reducing the gaps between the ringsections 10 in the transverse and longitudinal directions, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Thus also with radial compression of the sleeve,reduction of diameter is accompanied by reduction of axial length.

Both axial and radial compression of the sleeve results in thedeformation of the longitudinal webs 11, 12, shown in the FIG. 3, whilethe ring sections 10 maintain their shape. In consequence of thisdeformation, the angles formed'by the longitudinal webs 11, 12 or 12, 11at the end portions 15, 16 or the ring sections 10 become more acute.Furthermore, during compression of the sleeve there occurs deformationof the longitudinal webs 11a, 12a connected to the end rings 13, 14,both in the circumferential direction and towards the interior of thesleeve. In order to facilitate this deformation, the longitudinal webs11a, 12a may be of tapering or otherwise weakened construction.

The sleeve shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawing is similar inconstruction and operation to the sleeve describedabove.

This sleeve is also made of thermoplastic synthetic resin. Its shellconsists of rigid ring sections.20 and yieldable longitudinal webs21,22, the ring sections 20 and the longitudinal webs 21,22 beingintegral.

The ring sections 20 extend circumferentially of the shell, have alength of about one-fifth the circumference, and are arranged incircumferentially and axially consecutive rows, as shown. Therein theyare equidistantly spaced in the axial and transverse directions of thesleeve. The ring sections 20 of adjacent rows are offset relative toeach other, the offset of the ring sections 20 of axially consecutiverows being half their axial spacing. In addition, the ring sections 20of adjacent rows overlap in the circumferential direction.

The outer and inner edges of the ring sections 20form arcs of a circleand are so formed that they form, prior to compression of the sleeve, anexactly cylindrical inner surface 23, and, after compression, an exactlycylindrical outer surface 24.

The ring sections'20 are of rectangular cross section and arecomparatively thick to produce the required rigidity. The short sides ofthe ring sections 20 are on the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeveshell, while the long sides extend substantially radially.

The overlapping parts of the ring sections 20 are connected by twocircumferentially yielding longitudinal webs 21 or 22, respectively,which are spaced apart and parallel. The longitudinal webs 21 and 22 areinclined relative to the longitudinal direction. The inclination of thelongitudinal webs 21, 22 connected to one end 25 of each ring section 20is opposite to that of the longitudinal webs 21 and 22 connected to theother end 26 of the same ring section 20. Also the longitudinal webs 21,22 are so arranged that the direction of inclination of two consecutivewebs 21, 22 or 22, 21 changes alternately, and any two axiallyconsecutive longitudinal webs 21, 22 or 22, 21 form an obtuse angle,pointing in the direction of the end 25, 26 of the ring section 20 towhich they are connected.

The longitudinal webs 21, 22 are also of rectangular cross section andare comparatively thin to produce the required yielding properties.Their short sides are on the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeveshell, and their long sides extend substantially radially.

Although this is not shown in the drawings likewise in this sleeve thethickness of the longitudinal webs 21, 22 can be reduced at theirconnections with the ring sections 20 to provide at these connectionsbending and buckling points.

When the sleeve is axially compressed from the state of 'FIGS. 5 and 6to that of FIGS. 7 and 8, a corresponding pressure is exerted on thelongitudinal webs 21, 22 causing them to yield in the direction of thecircumference. In consequence, the distances between circumferentiallyfacing ends 25, 26 of the ring sections 20 is reduced until they almosttouch. In addition, there occurs also a corresponding reduction of theaxial distance between axially consecutive ring sections 20. Inconsequence, the axial compression of the sleeve will produce, togetherwith the axial shortening, necessarily also a reduction of its diameter,as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

However, the sleeve may also be reduced from the state of FIGS. 5 and 6to that of FIGS. 7 and 8 by means of radial compression. If the sleeveis radially compressed, the longitudinal webs 21, 22 are affectedthrough the ring sections 20 with the same pressure as in the case ofaxial compression. The longitudinal webs 21, 22 yield therefore alsounder radial compression of the sleeve in the direction of thecircumference, causing the distance between the ring sections to bereduced in the transverse and axial'directions, as shown in FIGS. 7 and8. Consequently radial compression of the sleeve also results in ashortening of its axial length together with the reduction of itsdiameter.

Both axial compression of the sleeve and radial compression result in adeformation of the longitudinal webs 21, 22 as shown in FIG. 7, whilethe ring sections '20 maintain their shape. In addition, the compressionof the sleeve results therein that the ring sections 20 and thelongitudinal webs 21, 22 are closely spaced and form an almost closedcylindrical shell.

We claim:

l. A textile-treating sleeve of thermoplastic material for the treatmentof threads and yarns having a shell, wherein the shell comprisesconsecutive rows of rigid ring sections extending circumferentially andspaced apart in the axial and transverse directions of the sleeve, thering sections of consecutive rows of ring sections being offset relativeto each other, and the end portions of adjacent offset ring sectionsbeing connected by longitudinal webs elastically and plasticallyyieldable in circumferential direction.

2. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ring sections and the websare equidistantly spaced apart and the ring sections of axiallyconsecutive rows are offset relative to each other by half their axialspacing.

3. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the webs are inclined to theaxial direction, the inclination of the webs connected to one end ofeach ring section being opposite to that of the webs connected to theother end of the said ring section.

4. A sleeve according to claim 3, wherein the inclination of axiallyconsecutive webs changes alternately, any two axially consecutive websform an obtuse angle pointing in the direction of the end of the ringsection to which they are connected.

5. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the connections between thewebs and the ring sections constitute bending and buckling points.

6. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the ring sectionsare connected by a single web each with the ends of the ring sections ofaxially adjacent rows of ring sections, and wherein the webs connectingadjacent ends of ring sec tions of axially consecutive rows of ringsections extend continuously from one end of the sleeve to the other.

7. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ring sections of adjacentaxial rows of ring sections overlap in the direction of thecircumference, the overlapping parts of the ring sections beinginterconnected by at least two parallel, spaced webs.

8. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ring sections and the websare of rectangular cross section, the thickness of the ring sectionsbeing comparatively great and that of the longitudinal webscomparatively small.

9. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inner edges ofthe ring sections form arcs of a circle and are so formed that, prior tocompression of the sleeve, the ring sections form an exactly cylindricalinner surface, and after compression, an exactly cylindrical outersurface.

10. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the sleeve haveend rings to which the webs adjacent thereto are connected.

11. A sleeve according to claim 10, wherein the ring sections, the websand the end rings are integral.

12. A sleeve according to claim 1 made of thermoplastic synthetic resin.

2. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ring sections and the websare equidistantly spaced apart and the ring sections of axiallyconsecutive rows are offset relative to each other by half their axialspacing.
 3. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the webs are inclinedto the axial direction, the inclination of the webs connected to one endof each ring section being opposite to that of the webs connected to theother end of the said ring section.
 4. A sleeve according to claim 3,wherein the inclination of axially consecutive webs changes alternately,any two axially consecutive webs form an obtuse angle pointing in thedirection of the end of the ring section to which they are connected. 5.A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the connections between the websand the ring sections constitute bending and buckling points.
 6. Asleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the ring sections areconnected by a single web each with the ends of the ring sections ofaxially adjacent rows of ring sections, and wherein the webs connectingadjacent ends of ring sections of axially consecutive rows of ringsections extend continuously from one end of the sleeve to the other. 7.A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ring sections of adjacentaxial rows of ring sections overlap in the direction of thecircumference, the overlapping parts of the ring sections beinginterconnected by at least two parallel, spaced webs.
 8. A sleeveaccording to claim 1, wherein the ring sections and the webs are ofrectangular cross section, the thickness of the ring sections beingcomparatively great and that of the longitudinal webs comparativelysmall.
 9. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inneredges of the ring sections form arcs of a circle and are so formed that,prior to compression of the sleeve, the ring sections form an exactlycylindrical inner surface, and after compression, an exactly cylindricalouter surface.
 10. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the ends ofthe sleeve have end rings to which the webs adjacent thereto areconnected.
 11. A sleeve according to claim 10, wherein the ringsections, the webs and the end rings are integral.
 12. A sleeveaccording to claim 1 made of thermoplastic synthetic resin.